DEKALB, Ill. – Three players reached double figures in kills as the Northern Illinois University volleyball team downed Central Michigan on Saturday night, 25-20, 25-22, 18-25, 25-17, at Victor E. Court. Freshman Kaylee Martin (Sterling, Ill./Sterling) posted a match-high 17 kills, junior Meg Wolowicz (Manitowoc, Wis./Manitowoc Lincoln) had 15 kills and eight blocks and freshman Jori Radtke (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Stevenson) had a career-best 11 kills. 

"It was nice for some people to come out and, statistically, do some positive things," said NIU head coach Ray Gooden. "Meg Wolowicz had a really good weekend, and finished it off strong with her performance tonight, both with her attacking and her blocking. Jori Radtke did a real nice job coming in playing solidly and consistent.

"Chandler Kinley did a really good job, especially toward the end, leading the team. All those things, plus everyone else contributing, was really good to get us over the hump."

NIU (2-17, 1-3 MAC) fell behind 5-0 in the opening set, but it took the Huskies just eight more points to take the lead, 8-6. Tied at 12, NIU used a 4-0 burst to open up a 16-12 advantage, junior Chrystal McAlpin (Calumet Park, Ill./Shepard) capped the spurt with the kill. Central Michigan pulled back within one at 20-19 but the Huskies answered with the next four as they went on to win the set, finished with a kill by Radtke. 

Martin tallied seven kills in the opening set as the Huskies hit .231 while holding Central Michigan to just .091 hitting. 

In the second set, the Huskies jumped out to a quick 6-1 advantage before Central Michigan pulled back even at 10. Tied 21-21, NIU scored two-straight via a block from McAlpin and sophomore Brinley Milbrath (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/John F. Kennedy), followed by an Central Michigan attack error. The Chippewas scored the next point to get back within one, but NIU closed the set with a kill from Milbrath and an ace from senior Anna Brereton (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie). 

Brereton finished the match with a pair of aces to go along with a match-high 18 digs. NIU held Central Michigan to just .085 hitting in the second set. 

Central Michigan (9-7, 1-3 MAC) led the third set 14-13 until a 4-1 burst opened up a four-point advantage for the Chippewas. CMU's lead was still four, 22-18, when they used three-straight kills to close the set and force a fourth. 

Kalina Smith and Paige Carey each had five kills for the Chippewas in the third set as they hit .361 as a team. Wolowicz paced NIU with four kills in the set. 

The fourth set featured eight ties and 13 lead changes as the Huskies and Chippewas went back-and-forth in the early stages. With NIU leading 17-16, a kill from Radtke, followed by a solo block from Martin, gave the Huskies a three-point edge. Central Michigan slowed the NIU momentum with a kill to trim the lead to 19-17 but the Huskies closed the match out with the next six points. Wolowicz had a pair of kills and was a part of two blocks in the final six points. 

NIU hit .455 with 16 kills and just one error in the final set, Radtke led the way with six kills in the set while Wolowicz added four. Jordan Bueter had five kills in the fourth set for Central Michigan.

Smith led CMU with 16 kills in the match, Carey added 12 while Courtney Hiltibran had a team-high 15 digs. 

NIU will return to action next weekend when the Huskies go back on the road. NIU will visit Toledo on Friday, Oct. 6, before traveling to Ball State on Saturday, Oct. 7.